Vibratory treating apparatus



April 25, 1961 ,1. w. MOAULEY AL 2,981,268

VIBRATORY TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS April 25, 1961 J. w. M AULEY ET AL 2,981,268 VIBRATORY TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5 V l 52 62 5 l I 75 w "15 45 61 l 8 1 T 47 f' 49 Q 5 INVENTORS 5 max? 77/ QMZ a/nd own zo eggzagggke April 25, 1961 J w MGAULEY ET AL 2,981,268

VIBRATORY TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill \I ls ..........W i h 4d a A 7 TORNE YS "vibration generating elements in 2,981,268 7 VIBRATORY TREATING APPARATUS James W. McAuley and William E. McCown, Toledo, OlllO, assignors to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 17, 19-57, Ser. No; 659,934: 9 Claims. Cl. 134-122 The present invention relates broadly to sonic vibration generating apparatus, and in particular to an improved form of surface treating apparatus that employs sonic vibrations.

'Although the invention is not restricted to the treating of any particular surface, whether of glass or any other material, it is especially well adapted to carry out the difficult job of cleaning glass sheets, particularly plate "glass sheets which have been bedded in plaster of Paris 'duringa'prior grinding and polishin-goperation or sheets which are covered with a layer of polishing rouge. Heretofore, the removal of this plaster and rouge, and other foreign matter from the surface of glass sheets was difficult to achievel Now, however, this diflicult and unusual cleaning operation can be carried out without the deficiencies and objectionable features of previouscleaning methods, by the use of sonic vibrations, preferably in the frequency range between .100 and 30,000 cycles-per secondwhich are transmitted in the form of vibration sound waves through a suitable medium in contact with the surface to be cleaned. As these sound waves are propagated throughthe medium, which for our purpose is a liquid, motion of the particles f the liquid will produce,- an alternate formation and collapse of gas bubbles, which phenomenon is referred toas cavitation. The collapse of the bubbles creates an agitation of sumcient magnitude within" the medium to disintegrate particles of substantially solid materials which are in contact withthe medium.

In its more specific aspects, the present invention em- =ploy's thejphenomenon just described to wash the underside of a glass sheet bypassing the sheet through a bath of a suitable liquid medium which is. being vibrated -by Y sonic energy generating elements.

- These generating ele be magnetostricti vetransducers are ments which may so as to direct the generated energy preferably arranged I onto the glass sheets being moved thereover. along a path substantially normal to the surface thereof.

Heretofore, it has been difficult to clean the underside of a glasssheet by sonic method without turning the sheets oven This. turning of relatively large-glass sheets isfn'otby means of the present invention even only' a difiic'ult and time'consuniing job, butlalso onein the sheets is very great. a v 1 'It is therefore an object of this invention to provide'a novel apparatus for thoroughly cleaning the lo'wer sur'- I face of sheet material in a continuous manner, and one that is particularly suited for use in a factory'production' line.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved l'apparatus' with which the undersidefof sheet a fixed relation with re Which the risk: of chipping,'scratchingfand breaking of structed in accordance with the invention incorporated herein:

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a transducer in position in the cleaning apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through a transducer housing and mounting taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a transducer core and coil taken along 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through a transducer core and magnet taken along line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal plan View partially in section of a modified form ofthe invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view ofa clamping bar for use in the modified form of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a transducer in operating position according to the modified form of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a sealing gasket for use in the modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the core lamination re-.

taining clip of Fig. 5.

With a more detailed referenceto the drawings, and

particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown the cleaning section of a grinding and polishing line. Ordinarily a glass sheet aftergbeing polished on one side is turned over bedded in plaster and sent back through the polishing apparatus in order to polish the other side. On emerging from the polishing apparatus after this second polishing operation,

the undersurface of the glass sheet must be cleaned'to remove any plaster or other foreign material which may have been picked up during the polishing of the opposite side. Heretoforqin or'derto clean this underside of the glass sheet by sonic meansit was customary to turnthe underside upward before cleaning.

tion line in. which large numberspf glass sheets are to be processed in a relativelyshort time. V

Briefly toremove foreign material from the underside'.

of sheet material according to the invention there ar e,

provided a' plurality of vibrationgenerating elements; magnetostrictivo transducers for example,..mounted ;in a unique fashion beneath1the sheet :material to be .cleaned., f Between the'sheet material andthe working' faces of v the vibration generating element's"there must, course be provided a suitable vibration transmitting material in contact with both the working faces of the transducer and the sheet surface. The purpose of this energytrans'mitting material is to provide a mediumin which thefgenerate'd' sonic vibrations may produce "cavitation with the resultant agitation of the-medium that loosens any foreign material 1 that-may be adhering to; the surface beingtreated and thus permit these foreignparticles to be easily removed f l By mounting the transducers below the surface itis pos sible toclean the surface by sonic methods as the glass is passingthrough a bath of theenergy transmitting material.

An additional advantage isito bef gained by mopnting i the sonic generatingelements beneath "the'glass sheet Patented Apr. 25, 1961 It is obvious that cleaning the underside of a glasssheet in this manner is not only diflicult from-a handling standpoint, but is also time consuming and therefore objectionable for a producthe sheet in a proper lateral position on of the, sheet material,

tobe cleaned in that a constant distance between the surface to be cleaned and the generating elements is main tained. In apparatus where the transducers are mounted above the'sheet 'an increasein the thickness of the sheet beyond a certain amount causes the sheet to strike the vibrating faces of the transducers. Obviously with the sheet material being carried above the generating elements in accordance with the invention any variation in the thickness of the sheet material will not produce this diffioulty. I I I Refcrringnow to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in greater detail there is shown a portion of acieaning section in which the lower surface of glass sheets are cleaned according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. This cleaning section includes a series of horizontally disposed rolls 20'suitably journaled in support members 21 so that the upper peripheral surfaces of these rolls-will provide a continuous planar conveying ,meansfor carrying a glass sheet 22, along a predetermined path. Spaced along the path of movement of the glass sheet '22 andadiustably secured to the support meansZl are guide rollers 23 which towards the glass sheet in order to receive the edges of the sheet and provide aguiding means for maintaining the drive rolls. These rollers may be adiusted inwardly or outwardly in relation to the edge of the glass sheet for positioning the sheet accordingly, by loosening bolt 24, moving the roller arm 25 in the desired direction and then resecuring the bolt.

In a preferred embodiment the vibration generating elements or transducers 26 are mountedindividually in two lines substantiall transverse to the path of movement of the sheet material and as is shown generally at.

27 in Fig. 1. The working faces 23 of the transducers in each of the lines may be disposed so as. to have their greatest width at at right angles'to'the pathof movement which arrangement provides a receive the lower portion 36 of a transducer. There are also provided support blocks 37 containing an opening of the same diameter asopening 35. These'blocks are affixed to the tub 38 so that the opening '35'in'the-tank and the one in the block '37 are aligned. The transducer 26 is provided with an enlarged mounting plate SS'near its mid-point the diameter of which is slightly larger than the opening 35; Therefore, when the transducer is lowcred into position through the opening 35 the mounting the gasket thus producing a tight waterproof seal.

' aredisposed .with their peripheral surfaces facing inwardly I retaining clips '40which engage U-shaped core 45 which is a stack plate 38 rests on a gasket 39. The mounting plate 38 is held'in a tight sealing relationship by means of a pair of the upper marginal edge of mounting plate 38. These clips 40 are provided with centrally located bolts 41 which when threaded into sup port blocks .37 force themounting plate 38 down onto There is also provided'locator keys'42 secured on block 37 by screws 43 which are adapted to engage notches 44' formed in the peripheral edgev of the mounting plate 38. The notches 44 'are' diametrically. located in the plate and more particularly. are axially aligned with the greatest width at of the transducer working face 28 to assure that the transducers will be' properly positioned in relation to one another. I j I g I As seen best in Fig. 5, the transducers which generate the sonic 'energy usedin the cleaning process comprise a i of thin laminated leaves or stripsof ferromagnetic material; a coil 46 ar ranged in surrounding relationship to the legsof the core corefor providing a polarizing effect on'the core; an; acoustical horn 48 firmly secured to the cross leg of the core for directing .theivibratory energy produced bythe magnetostrictive movement of the core to a region where I and which when connected to a power source of alternate ing current sets up an alternating magnetic field within the core; a magnet 47 positioned between thelegs of the I this energy may be utilized.

greater cleaning width of the, line of elements. Also'the two lines of transducers are staggered so that. the transducers of one line will clean or treat the strips of the sheet material which have been left untreated by the spaces between the transducers of the other line. The rolls 20 and the upper portions 29 of the transducers are situated in a tank 34 filled with an energy transmitting medium 31 which for our purposes is preferably a liquid such as water. As can be seen best in Fig. 2 the lines 27 of transducers are mounted on raised portions 32 of the bottom of the tub 30 and in such a manner that each of;

these transducers presents its workingface 28 parallel to the underside of the sheet 22 being conveyed thereover by rolls 20. 3 l

The spacing between the working face of the transducers and the surface of the glass to be cleaned has been found to produce the best results when it is in the. order of .060 .100 of an inch. This spacing maybe varied by loosening bolts .33 and positioning journal bracket 34 as necessary. Raising or lowering thisbracket Briefly, the'princi le of operation of a maghetostrio' tive transducer is that when an alternating current flows in the core a corresponding alternating field is induced in the core which because of its inherent form-magnetic properties produces a cyclic change in length of the core of the same frequency as that of thevoltage which'is used to energize. 'Since the acoustical horn which is firmly fixed to one end of the core moves correspondingly with each cyclic change in length of the core, the free end of the horn or working face 28 serves as a useful source of vibratory energy. .The frequency of the voltage used, for the purpose described herein is in the order of 10 kilocycles, although a number of satisfactory values "may be found depending on the type of operation being performed; the amount of power used, and the particular design of transducer being used.

produces a corresponding change of position of rolls 29 l and the glass'siheet 22"carried thereon;

It is advisable inmountin'g these ransdu'cers in 'opera' tive position to insure that. the transducers are main tained securely. This is important since not only would a loose mounting of the transducer result in reduced efliciency of operation and; an undesirableiincrease in operation noise because of "vibration between theltu b and transducer, but also since the workingfaces and upper portions 29:0{12116 transducers are submerged in water any looseness in mounting wouldpermit water to seep down to the electricalportions ot-the transducer outside the cleaning tub and increase the possibility of damaging it through short circuits.

As shown in Fig. 5, the transducer has a protective cover 49 which encloses the lower portion 36ofthe trans- "ducer including the core 45, coil 45, and magnet 47.

This protective cover has projections 50 and 51 which are so disposedthatwhen the cover is in position, the projec tions will hold ormaintain the coil 46 and polarizing magnet 47 respectively in a fixed.'position.1,The projections 50 for holding the coil in place on the leg portions of the core 45 are shown as. four triangular. portions in Figs. 6 and 7, and the centralprojection 51 that holds the for making the electrical connections permits rapid and foolproof changing of transducers in casethey fail or Therefore, in mounting/a transducer 26 of the type shown in Fig. 5 there is provided in the tank for each I transducer an opening 35 0f sufficientsizetc enable i to magnet in place l s -shown in Fig.73

With reference particularly to F1g.

lower portion '53 of the cover 49. ,The use of jack plugs need repairs. Alsoshown is acondenser 54 provided for power factor correction. w i

In an alt rnate. embodiment of ,theiinvention a plu- 8,. there is disclosed a .the'electrical components and connections thereto of a. transducer as according to the preferred embodiment. 1 I The connection to the external supply of electrical power (not shown) is provided by jack plugs 52disposedin the water-tight seal.

rality of transducers are arranged as is shown in Fig. 9 into a cleaning unit or module55. These transducers are arranged in a spaced linear relationship, thus presenting a row of vibrating surfaces to a surface to be cleaned.

The transducers in this alternate embodiment are held in a fixed relationship with respect to a pair of module mountinginons 56 by means of a pair of unique securing bars 57. This securing bar 57 comprises an upper flange portion 58 which is so shaped as to fit over the flanges of the transducers as in Fig. 11, and a serrated spacing portion 59 which when placed in position along the long side of a line of transducers in a module 55, the serrations 60 dovetail with the spaces between flanges of adjacent transducers. The efiect achieved when the pair of securing bars 57 are in place is to provide a module in which individual transducers are secured in an immova ble fixed relationship with each other and in which this relationship will not be changed by operational vibration in normal use.

As is shown in Fig. 11 there is provided a protective cover 61 which completely encloses the cores and coils of the transducers in a cleaning module 55. This cover is secured to mounting irons 56 by means of screws 62 threaded therein. Also provided on the inner sides of the cover 61 are longitudinally extending brackets 63 for holding the coils 46 on the legs of the cores 45 and another longitudinally extending bracket 64 for holding the magnets 47 in place between the core legs.

As in the preferred embodiment, electrical connections are made by means of jack plugs 65 in the lower side of the covers 49. By properly connecting the coils of the individual transducers only one set of jack plugs is needed for each module. r i

The mounting of a module in operative position is best illustrated in Fig. 11. The Wall 66 of the tub is provided with an opening just large enough to receive the cover 61 of the module; The edges 67 of the opening are recessed .in order to receive a gasket on which the overlapping edges of the securing bars 57 rest. The module 55 is then held against the tub wall 66 by means of retaining plates 68 overlapping the bars 57 and secured by means of bolts 69 threaded into the wall.

In order to properly seal or make water tight a module 55 it is desirable to provide an additional specially shaped gasket 70'which is placed between thev individual transducers. *Such a gasket 70 is shown in Fig. 12. This gasket is so shaped as-to be able to fit in the space 71 between'the individual transducers (Fig. 9). The corner notches 72 are'provided, for fitting underneath the upper flange 58 of thesecuring bars 57 in order that these bars 7 may hold the gaskets in place. The gaskets are of suitable thickness so that in a completed module 55 the spaces 71 between the individual transducers are filled and provide In :Fig. 13 there is illustrated a unique core lamination retaining clip 73 which is snappedin place over the outer I edges of the legs of the cores 45 as shown in Figs. -5 and ll. These;clips are made of a rnaterial such as spring steel for holding the laminations of the core in a close contacting or pinching relationship. The use of the clips eliminates any gapping between the laminations and thereby promotes a more efficient-operation.

It is to be-understood that the formsof the invention disclosed herein are to be'taken as the preferred embodiments thereof, and that various changes in the shape, size I and arrangement of parts as 'well as various procedural changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

: 1. Apparatus for cleaning the underside of substantially I horizontally disposed sheet glass, comprising a tank having a bottom wall and side walls and adapted to contain a supply of a'liquid vibratory energy transmitting medium, said bottom 'wall'having raised portions spaced from one another, a conveyor for carrying the sheet glass along a definite path with at least the underside of said sheet glass being in contact with said liquid medium, and vibration generating means located in the raised portions of said bottom wall and including vibrating faces disposed within said liquid medium and positioned to direct vibratory energy onto the underside of said sheet glass as it moves along said path.

2. Apparatus'for cleaning the underside of horizontally V disposed sheet glass, comprising 'a tank having a bottom Wall and side walls and adapted to contain a supply of a liquid vibration transmitting medium, said bottom wall having raised portions spaced from one another and extending transversely of said tank to provide mounting surfaces, a conveyor for carrying said sheet glass along a definite path through said liquid medium, a plurality of vibration generating transducers located in openings in said raised mounting surfaces and disposed in rows arranged transversely of the path of travel of the sheet glass through said tank, means for removably securing said transducers to said raised mounting surfaces in sealing relation thereto, and positioning means for maintaining the transducers in each row in fixed relationship to one another.

-3. Apparatus for cleaning the underside of substantially horizontally disposed sheet glass as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transducer securing means comprises retaining clips engaging a portion of the transducer and holding it in contact with said raised mounting surfaces, and'said positioning means comprises locator keys carried by. said raised mounting surface and received in notches in said transducers for positioning the same relative .to one another.

4. Apparatus for cleaning the underside of horizontally disposed sheet glass, comprising a tank having a bottom wall and side walls and adapted to'contain a supply of a liquid vibration transmitting medium, a conveyor for carrying said sheet glass along a definite path through said liquid medium, a plurality of vibration generating transducers arranged side by side transversely of the path of travel of the sheet glass, said transducersbeing provided with enlarged mounting plates, and means for securing said transducers in position comprising a serrated bar including an upper portion engaging said' mounting plates and a lower portion having serrations fitting between. adjacent transducers and maintaining them in fixed spaced relation.

5. Apparatus for cleaning the bottom surface of horizontally disposed flat sheet material by sonic vibrations,-

- tween the working faces of the transducers and the botsurface of the sheet tom surface of the sheet material such that upon operation of the vibration generating transducers the bottom tion.

.6. Apparatus ing faces of the transducers are spaced from the bottom of an inch.

7 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in-which the con- U veyor means comprises a plurality of spaced rolls, and

- cent-rolls, with the Working faces thereof spaced from the bottom surface of the sheet material in the order of .060 to .100 of an inch.

surface of the sheet material will be cleaned by cavitaas claimed in claim 5, in which the workmaterial in the order of .060 to .100

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the conveyor means comprises a plurality of spaced rolls, and in which two rows of transducers are located between adjacent rolls and spaced from one another along the path of travel of the sheet material, with the working faces of the transducers in one row being staggered with relation to theworking faces of the transducers in the other row.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the conveyor means comprises a plurality of spaced rolls, and in which the transducers are located between two adjacent rolls.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Marshall 2 June 15, Gribble Sept. 15, Putter Oct. 24, Eldredge July 20, Faith Apr. 26, Tait Sept. 12, Camp May 1, McCown Mar. 5, 

